History, technology, and probably some other stuff

Best posts 2017: The 10 best social studies sites of all time

by glennw on December 31, 2017

I’m sure most of you are doing the same thing I’m doing right now. Spending time with family and friends, watching football, catching up on that book you’ve been dying to read, eating too much Chex Mix, and enjoying the occasional nap.

But if you need a break from all of the holiday cheer, we’ve got you covered. Between now and the first week in January, you’ll get a chance to re-read seven of the most popular History Tech posts from 2017. Enjoy the reruns. See you in a couple of weeks!

Last week at the Kansas state social studies conference, I got into the kind of conversation that really doesn’t have an end. You know the kind. Think best flavor of Thanksgiving pie. The discussion can go on forever.

And last week’s question? What are the best online sites and tools for social studies teachers?

Yup. No problem.

We obviously didn’t finish the conversation. But it was great hearing what others use and see as valuable. So today . . . I’m opening up the discussion to you. Here’s a list of my new top ten best social studies sites of all time, in no particular order. (And of all time, I mean the list as of today. I’m headed to the NCSS conference tomorrow. Trust me. The list will look different next week.)

What would you add or subtract?

Zoom InI first ran across the folks in charge of Zoom In exactly three years ago at the NCSS conference and fell in love even before the final version came out. The goal is supporting historical thinking skills and quality instruction through the use of digital primary sources and questions. It’s free. It can be used online or with traditional paper and pencil. It supports the NCSS C3 Inquiry Arc. And it encourages reading and writing.

Common LitMy good friend, literacy and ELA guru Robi Alstrom, shared this site with me several months ago. Great for social studies teachers or for building background knowledge in reading class, CommonLit’s text sets cover a range of historical, cultural, and political topics and include relevant reading passages from a variety of genres. CommonLit has an impressive list of partners and delivers high-quality, free instructional materials to support literacy development for students in grades 5-12. Their resources are flexible, research-based, aligned to the Common Core State Standards and created by teachers, for teachers.

I’ve raved about the Learning Lab before. Millions of documents, artifacts, teaching tools, collections – all from the many different Smithsonian museums? What’s not to like? Added bonus? You and students can create class sets of stuff you find and create learning activities.

(Speaking of the Smithsonian . . . their Educators page is phenomenal. You can search for all sorts of lessons, activities, and teaching tools by grade level, content area, and keyword.)

TPS Teachers NetworkThe TPS Teachers Network is a social media platform that welcomes, connects, and engages teachers in a sustained conversation and ongoing professional learning within a community of peers to improve teaching and learning using Library of Congress primary sources. Great place to interact with other educators.

DocsTeach
The project is designed to provide useful document-based lesson plans and activities created by both NARA staff members and classroom teachers. Tons of primary sources from the National Archives. Activities that focused on and supported historical thinking skills. The ability to create your own activities, save them, and share them digitally with your students. A recent upgrade makes it compatible with mobile devices.

Google My Maps
With Google My Maps, you have the option to create your maps directly from your Google Drive page so it’s even easier to create, access, share, and collaborate on your custom maps. The update also makes it easier to store and find your maps. Creating a custom map is just as simple as creating and opening a new Google Doc, presentation, or spreadsheet. Just select “New,” then “More,” then “Google My Maps” to start creating geography goodness.

Evidence Analysis Window Frames
So . . . this is clearly a commercial. But lots of folks are discovering that using this handy historical thinking tool can really help students make sense of primary and secondary sources.

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Glenn Wiebe
social studies nerd, consultant, tech guy

Thanks for dropping by! As a curriculum consultant for ESSDACK, an educational service center in Hutchinson, Kansas, History Tech is my chance to rattle on about social studies and technology. Feel free to poke around.

Evidence Analysis Window Frames and Tools for Teaching & Learning

At ESSDACK, we want to offer tools and products that encourage you to learn and work when and where you want. Check out these handy products that can be used as instructional tools and professional learning opportunities in ways that work best for you.

My fav?

The very cool Evidence Analysis Window Frame that scaffolds historical thinking skills and helps kids make sense of primary sources.
But you'll also find C4 Cards and 25 Days of History Tech Tools to help you grow professionally.